Minister of Youth, Sports and Community Empowerment Charles Griffith has announced that the Government is proposing to make $20 000 available to the National Federations on the island.
Speaking to representatives of National Federations during a meeting at the Wildey Gymnasium on Saturday, Minister Griffith said the Federations, which all represent different sporting disciplines, must use the funds for developmental purposes.
The Federations were advised that in order to access the funding, they must submit relevant documentation to the National Sports Council.
“So to be absolutely clear, your developmental programmes are going to be entirely up to you in terms of how you see that programme working for you in terms of your discipline. If you want to come to us in relation to assistance, that is in place,” he said.
Griffith further indicated that in addition to the $20 000, National Federations also make requests for technical assistance if there is a need for them to do so.
He added that the Government has also taken a decision to assist structured clubs with technical assistance.
“So, if there is a need for balls, if there is a need for bats, whatever it is that is used in the particular discipline, then we are prepared to look at that and to facilitate that as well,” he said.
Additionally, Minister Griffth called on the heads of the Federations to look closely at their coaches and determine whether there is a need for them to be trained and equipped with modern knowledge and skills so that they can competently prepare their players for competition nationally, regionally and internationally.
“To that end, I have taken a decision that we are going to focus, as a pilot, on a couple of disciplines in terms of having a dedicated coach and all the necessary resources to a core team of some of the disciplines to see what will happen at the end of nine months.
“Is it a case where we are just spinning top in mud? Or is it a case where if we put some resources behind a particular discipline we can see results that can come out in a positive way,” he said.
Griffith added: “I am sure that all of you are aware that the gym here has been made available to every single federation for coaching. I am told by members of staff here that we recently had a hockey tournament which all of you are aware of, and more teams that visited Barbados used the facility than our home team.